title: Use of insecticide treated net and malaria preventive education: effect on malaria parasitemia among people living with AIDS in Nigeria, a cross-sectional study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Malaria and HIV are major causes of morbidity and mortality in sub-Saharan Africa with both diseases highly endemic in Nigeria. This study was conducted to assess the effect of long lasting insecticide treated net (ITN) use and malaria preventive education on burden of malaria parasite among people living with AIDS (PLWHA) at Osogbo southwestern Nigeria.
  
  
  METHODS
  A descriptive cross-sectional study of newly recruited consenting PLWHA that were screened consecutively for malaria, those positive were treated with artemisinin combination therapy. All PLWHA were educated about malaria infection, given ITN and followed up monthly for three months when they were rescreened for malaria infection. Data collected was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 392 (92%) PLWHA completed the study. Mean age of the respondents was 33 ± 11.6 years. They were 120 (31%) males and 272 (69%) females. Majority (80%) were married, over 33% completed secondary education while 21% had tertiary education. Most were traders (40%) and artisans (25%). About 60% had Plasmodium falciparum malaria parasitemia at baseline which drastically reduced to 5% at three months with ITN use and malaria prevention education.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Malaria is a major preventable condition among PLWHA. Preventive education and ITN use reduced malaria parasite burden among this population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health, College of Health Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Samuel Anu
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Olowookere
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Osun State University, Osogbo, Osun state, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Najemdeen Ajao
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Adeleke
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health, College of Health Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Emmanuel Akintunde
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Abioye-Kuteyi
authors.affiliation: Antiretroviral clinic, State hospital, Osogbo, Osun state, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Ijeoma Soromtochi
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Mbakwe
keywords: ITN use; Malaria; PLWHA; Preventive education